Bill to reverse Household Charge introduced

LAOIS Offaly Deputy Brian Stanley has said it’s time Labour stood up for those who elected them and voted yes to overturn the household charge.

LAOIS Offaly Deputy Brian Stanley has said it’s time Labour stood up for those who elected them and voted yes to overturn the household charge.

Introducing the Sinn Féin Bill to repeal the Household Charge Deputy Stanley said “The household charge is grossly unfair and should be repealed immediately. The millionaire pays the same as pensioners and the Taoiseach pays the same as a lone parent who has had their benefits cut.”

He said the household charge ensures the public pay three times for local services.

“Firstly, they pay for the services through their taxes. Households then have to pay again for services including waste collection, call out charges for the fire brigade, septic tank charges, management fees and soon water charges will be added to the list. And now the government want the same households to pay an added household charge,” he said.

Deputy Stanley said by introducing this Bill, The Local Government, Household Charge, Repeal Bill 2012, Sinn Féin, with the support of opposition and hopefully government TDs, will reverse the Household Charge and reimburse all those who have paid the charge.

“In opposing this charge Sinn Féin is also careful to put forward solutions. The government could have made other choices. The introduction of a new third rate of tax of 48% on income earned in excess of €100,000 would raise €410 million. The abolition of ‘Group Relief’ availed of by companies transferring losses to profitable companies and write down tax receipts would raise €450.3 million, the abolition of legacy property reliefs would raise €341.8 million while the capping of all public servants wages at €100,000 per annum would save €265 million. Any of these choices would have provided adequate funding for local government,” he concluded.

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